Dave spoke this morning from Philippians 1:6, a verse that resounds with Paul’s confidence that God will complete the good work He had begun in the Philippians. The letter to the Philippians is one which, despite being written from the chains of prison, is full of joy and hope. Paul is confident that God will not give up on the work He has started. Ultimately, this work is not something which originated with his ministry, or even with their response; it is a work begun by God. He uses people and churches to reach others, to be sure, but it is God who works in and through us. God does not give up on those He calls; He continues working in them. Spiritual rebirth is the start of this work, but He continues to plant the life of Christ in the soul of man and implants us with everlasting life.

All who are in Christ Jesus are new creations (2 Cor 5:17) and God works transformation in us, rather like a sculptor who chisels away at the stone until the perfect shape emerges. God will chisel off everything in us that does not look like Christ. He has a purpose for our lives that goes beyond our deaths, for this work will only be completed on the day of Christ Jesus, the day when the work of salvation is finally completed and there is restoration of all that has been tainted by sin.

Just as Paul could be confident for the Philippians, so Dave spoke of his confidence that God will complete His work in Goldthorpe. He is still working in our midst and we know He will not give up!

William Carey (1761-1834) was a cobbler who became a missionary to India and one of the most influential men of God this world has seen. Yan used his life as an example to us of someone who lived beyond their limitation, showing how positive expectation, practical preparation and persistent determination were key factors in his achievements.

William Carey is perhaps best known for the quotation ‘Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.’ He is an example of someone who did not let discouragement or the opinions of others affect his fire or zeal for God. He knew God had called him to spread the gospel and prepared thoroughly for this work.  Despite leaving school at the age of twelve, he learnt Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Dutch and Bengali and taught himself many practical skills which became useful to him in his work in India. He persevered there through many personal troubles, including the insanity of his wife, Dorothy, who attacked him on more than one occasion and had to be restrained at times because of her mental health issues. He faced sickness on many occasions and lost his children at young ages. Yet despite all the setbacks and trials, he continued in persistent determination, saying ‘I am just a plodder for God.’

Yet the things William Carey achieved in India were phenomenal. He founded over 100 Christian schools, including the first school for girls in India. He translated the Bible ito 8 languages, built a printing press, opened saving banks and introduced the steam engine to the country. He founded the Baptist Missionary Society, founded a Christian college in India and also the first Agri-Horticultural Society there. He shows us that God honours His promises and can help us to live beyond our limitations if we will trust Him and work with Him.

Guest speaker Yan Hadley spoke last night from Isaiah 54:1-3 on ‘living beyond your limitations.’ There are some limitations or restrictions which God gives us which are for our own good, but many of the limitations we accept are not from God. Personal circumstances, financial restrictions, unbelief, apathy, unforgiveness and a sense of inadequacy and inferiority can all limit what we do, but there are 4 things which can change how we live in regard to limitations.

1. Positive expectation
2. Practical preparation
3. Persistent determination
4. Promised culmination

The world tells us that ‘seeing is believing’, but the Christian life involves believing before we see. Isaiah tells the barren woman to sing and rejoice. Even if circumstances don’t seem favourable, we are called to praise God in faith. Jesus said at the tomb of Lazarus, before he raised him, that ‘if you will believe, you will see the glory of God.’ (Jn 11:40) Caleb and Joshua did not let the negativity of the other 10 spies influence their faith in God. We have to learn to see beyond our limitations to the unlimited possibilities with God, how barrenness can give birth to new life in Him.

There are practical things we are called to do, however, as Is 54:2 makes plain. ‘Enlarge… lengthen… stretch…strengthen’ are the key words here. We have to prepare and train, just as runners do before undertaking races or Sir Edmund Hillary did before climbing Everest. Prayer and fasting, Bible study, intercession and evangelism are all ways we can prepare to do what God has called us to do. We might need to learn practical skills, as William Carey did in learning many languages before going as a missionary to India. As Henry Longellow puts it, ‘The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.’

Persistent determination is also required if we are to live beyond our limitations. We must not give up or give in. A fear of failure can hold us back, but even if we fail frequently, that does not mean we can’t succeed! Peter may have sunk, but he also actually walked on water! As the SAS put it, ‘he who dares wins.’ Is 54:2b reminds us not to hold back. God’s grace is able to make us abound in every good work (2 Cor 9:8). The boy with just a picnic lunch was able to help feed over 5000 people. The disciples who listened to Jesus caught many fish after a fruitless night’s work. We must not let mockery, fear, doubts and disappointments stop us from attempting great things for God.

If we do our part, we can be sure that there will be a promised harvest (see Gal 6:9, Is 55:11). Is 54:3 tells us ‘you shall spread out to the right and to the left.’ There will be growth and expansion. Faith expressed in praise, preparation and persistence will reap the rewards of God’s faithfulness.

Mark Burgin spoke this morning on the subject of ‘Shalom’, the Hebrew word for peace which also conveys a sense of fulness, wellbeing and contentment. God’s blessing on us brings peace (see Gen 1:27-31); His blessing on us brings peace and contentment. (Numbers 6:22-26).

God’s peace does not necesssarily mean the absence of trouble or trials. The Israelites were slaves for years before the Exodus and then during the wilderness wanderings they had to be prepared to move on at a moment’s notice. Life was not always easy for them! Even when they went into the Promised Land, there were battles and wars to win; life was far from tranquil most of the time. But ‘shalom’ does not focus on outer peace; instead, it is something which holds us steady throughout life becasue we know God is in control. This inner peace from God comes from His presence, so as we dwell in Him, we can know peace, no matter what. God is able to sustain us and speak peace over us; Jesus promised to leave us His peace and this is always available to us. (John 14:27)

The Bible is actually made up of 66 books within the one book, written by many different authors and in many different genres. Part of the problem in understanding the Bible lies in understanding each genre and reading it accordingly.

Many books are historical narratives, but others are poetic (e.g. Psalms, Proverbs) and use imagery and symbolism to convey truths. The Gospels in the New Testament focus on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but are not ‘biographies’ in the traditional sense of the word. We have letters to churches; we have prophetic writings in the BIble. Revelation, along with parts of Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel and Amos, are part of what is known as ‘apocalyptic literature’, relying heavily on imagery and symbolism to convey spiritual visions connected with the end times and the ultimate establishment of God’s kingdom.

When a child learns to read, there is the challenge of vocabulary: what does this word literally mean? My granddaughter was reading a book this week about a ‘banquet’ and ‘goblets’. She had never encountered either word before, so although she could read them easily enough, I had to explain what they meant to her. Then, however, we move to the realm of idiom and metaphor. When we say God is our rock, we do not mean God is a literal rock; we are talking about the elements of a rock which He represents (strength, stability, immovability etc.) When we read Revelation, there are images a-plenty which take some fathoming, but even when things are not meant literally (Satan being a dragon, for example), that does not mean they are not true.

Learning to read the Bible in context and with these spiritual eyes and ears isn’t easy, but it’s the path to real understanding!